Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page
In the last article we read how Isaac had reached a point in his life where he was beginning to fear, that the end was nearing. He was now 137 years of age, which was the same age that his older brother Ishmael was when he had passed away. We also learned that Isaac is planning on bailing out Esau with a special blessing. This special blessing is perhaps, an end around move by Isaac, to get past God, in regards to Esau's mistake. So we move forward, and we now learn that Isaac begins the process by sending Esau out on a special errand. It would be at this time that Isaac would let Esau know, that there's a special blessing that he wants to speak into his life: "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons -- your quiver (sword) and bow, and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." -- Genesis 27:2-4 But there's one question that came to my mind when I'd first entered into the scene between these two men. And that question dealt with wondering if Isaac knew that Esau had foolishly traded away his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew? Remember that the Abrahamic Covenant is a divine promise that was made by God to Abraham and his seed: "Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." -- (Genesis 26:3-5) This is what Esau had traded away for one weak moment of hunger. But personally I think Esau had saw his inheritance only in a natural sense, and because of this his vision was severely limited, when it came to what he would actually inherit from his father if he would have held on to his birthright. Remember that when Esau had traded away his birthright, the land that he was going to inherit, was experiencing a severe famine at the time. So to Esau, one could easily see how his inheritance wouldn't have seemed like much to him, since he was being limited and couldn't see past his natural senses. Be that as it may, things would change in a big way after Esau had traded away his birthright, and now it's very well possible that Esau was now second-guessing his foolish decision. This could also be the reason why he was hanging around his father a lot more, as Isaac entered his final stages of his life. Now I believe that Isaac did know that Esau had done this foolish thing when it came to his birthright. And now Isaac feels that since his time on this earth is coming to a close, he will try one last ditch-effort to get Esau back under the Abrahamic Covenant. Know that this is a crucial move on Isaac's part, for he's willing to try an end around move, by trying to out maneuver God, in regards to the destinies that the Lord had already planned out for the two boys: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older [Esau] will serve the younger [Jacob]." -- (Genesis 25:23) Now understand that the reason why I keep pressing the issue when it comes to Isaac knowing what Esau had done, when it came to his birthright? Because if this was the case (in which I do think), this clearly shows us how our emotions and feelings that we have for the people that are close in our lives could make us blind to what we know is right, and lead us down a wrongful-path. These are the type of situations that could lead us into traps and snares, that could also land us in a position to where we are going against God's will and plan. These are the types of decisions that will constantly pit us against God and bring us no rewards. And this account with Isaac and Esau, clearly shows how one could easily be led in a "prideful trap" when it comes to these types of situations. Especially when we don't trust God enough by allowing ourselves to be constantly led down a wrongful path, with our hearts leading the way. I believe that this is how Isaac was led into making the decisions that he had made, when it came to Esau. Not necessarily trying to defy God on purpose, but trying to save his son from the awful mistakes that he kept making. Know that Isaac was a good man, who at this point in his life was blinded by his emotions and feelings, when it came to his son Esau. We must also remember that these are not the only things in which he was blinded by, for it was at this time that Isaac's natural eyesight was very weak as well, making it hard for him to be able to see with his natural eyes. Now personally I hold the viewpoint that this is a condition that God had allowed Isaac to endure at this time in his life. And although most would disagree, I truly believe that God had allowed this to happen to Isaac in order to keep him from making a terrible mistake against. For the Lord knew that Isaac would be easily led by his emotions and feelings when it came to his son Esau. Now normally when we get to this part of the account, teachers and preachers jump immediately to Rebekah and Jacob and it's at this time that they begin to talk about how Isaac was deceived by the two. But what I want to point out is that Rebekah and Jacob wasn't the only one's who was found to be at fault, when it came to this situation with Esau. Now you should be able to see when we explore the Sacred Scriptures a little bit deeper, we find that Isaac himself is a fault, since he's planning an end around move, in order to try and out maneuver God when it came to his son Esau. This was the first move by Isaac that resulted in Rebekah's counter reaction. In the next article we'll explore that reaction in greater detail. We'll also take a look at how she would involve her favorite son Jacob. But for now, when it comes to Isaac - God already has checkmate, my friend. **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright 31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine 33) The Envious King Abimelech 37) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLLINE PAGE-> 39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception 40) Deceitful Hearts 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 
|
|
|
